Re: st: RE: Saveold option

[David Harless <dwharles@vcu.edu>]

Newson, Roger B wrote:
> I think you'll find that, under Stata 9, the -asveold- option  creates
> Stata 8 datasets, not Stata 7 datasets as required by your colleague.
> That is probably why your colleague's Stata 7 is confused.
Dear Statalisters:
I guessed the same thing about saveold, but then checked the help menu of Stata 
9 and found

******************************
    "saveold saves the dataset currently in memory on disk under the name
    filename in Stata 7 format.

    "If you are using Stata 9 and want to save a file so that it may be read
    by someone using Stata 8, simply use the save command.  Stata 8 and Stata
    9 share the same dataset format."
******************************

I can't guess the reason for Ilaria's problem (SE to intercooled perhaps?), but 
she should surely be able to get round the problem by following Professor 
Newson's advice.

Dave Harless


> If you have access to StatTransfer, then that can be used to convert
> Stata 9 datasets to Version 7. You can find out more about StatTransfer
> at
> http://www.stattransfer.com/
>
>  However, if you don't have StatTransfer, then one possible fix migth be
> to use -outsheet- and -insheet- together with the -descsave- package,
> downloadable from SSC. -descsave- is a Stata program that writes Stata
> programs. It can write a do-file to reconstruct the types, formats,
> variable labels, value labels and characteristics of a list of
> variables. This do-file should work under Stata 7, 6 or 5.
>
> For instance, if you type in Stata 9
>
>                 . sysuse auto, clear
>                 . rename displacement displ
>                 . rename gear_ratio gratio
>                 . descsave, do(auto.do, replace)
>                 . outsheet using auto.txt, nolabel replace
>
> then you should create a generic text spreadsheet -auto.txt-, containing
> the names and values of the variables of the auto data, and a do-file
> -auto.do-, which can reconstruct their types, formats, value labels and
> variable labels. If you transfer -auto.txt- and -auto.do- to a folder on
> your colleague's machine, and then type in Stata 7, 6 or 5
>
>                 . insheet using auto.txt, clear
>                 . run auto.do
>                 . describe
>
> then you should find that you have created a Stata 6 dataset in memory
> similar to your old Stata 9 dataset. The precision of the transfer
> process will probably not be as good as with StatTransfer, but will
> probably be good enough for most people most of the time.
>
> I hope this helps.
>
> Roger
>
>
> Roger Newson
> Lecturer in Medical Statistics
> POSTAL ADDRESS:
> Respiratory Epidemiology and Public Health Group
> National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London
> St Mary's Campus
> Norfolk Place
> London W2 1PG
> STREET ADDRESS:
> Respiratory Epidemiology and Public Health Group
> National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London
> 47 Praed Street
> Paddington
> London W1 1NR
> TELEPHONE: (+44) 020 7594 0939
> FAX: (+44) 020 7594 0942
> EMAIL: r.newson@imperial.ac.uk
> WEBSITE: http://www.kcl-phs.org.uk/rogernewson/
> Opinions expressed are those of the author, not of the institution.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-statalist@hsphsun2.harvard.edu
> [mailto:owner-statalist@hsphsun2.harvard.edu] On Behalf Of Mosca, Ilaria
> Sent: 17 February 2006 15:01
> To: statalist@hsphsun2.harvard.edu
> Subject: st: Saveold option
>
> Dear Statalisters,
>
> I am working on a big file with a colleague, so we frequently have to
> exchange our DTA databases. However, I have Stata 9 and she's using
> Stata 7. 
> Although I save my databases with the command -saveold, she does not
> manage to read the file and gets an error report that says -unrecognized
> format.
> What could the problem be? I tend to first save the files in Stata 9
> (with command -save) and afterwards I save them for Stata 7 (with
> command -saveold). When the file is saved in Stata 9, can it be "saved
> back" in Stata 7? Alternatively, should I save the files already from
> the beginning with -saveold?
>
> Many thanks in advance for your help and suggestions.
>
> Ilaria
>
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